Interlocking magazine structure

ABSTRACT

An elongate magazine is adapted to contain a plurality of like electronic components. The magazine includes an elongate support section adapted for the support of the electronic components. A pair of side walls extend upward and downward from the base of the magazine and are spaced from the support section, the top portion of each side wall has an inwardly projecting panel to secure the miniaturized electronic components upon the support section, the panel having an upward projection to permit vertical nesting of like magazines. Catches extend outwardly from each side wall, the catches being adapted to horizontally engage like interlocking magazine structures.

United States Patent 1 Carroll June 5, 1973 [54] INTERLOCKING MAGAZINE STRUCTURE [75] Inventor: Richard W. Carroll, Los Angeles,

21 Appl. No.: 204,720

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 3,433, Jan. 16, 1970, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 206/65 F, 220/23.6 [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 21/02, B65d 71/00 [58] Field of Search ..46/25; 52/581;

206/1 R, 46 ED, 62 R, 65 R, 65 F; 220/234, 23.6, 97 B, 97 R; 312/111, 263; 339/17 CF,

3,524,541 8/1970 Nelson ..206/1 R X 3,701,079 10/1972 Bowden et al. ..220/2314 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 394,938 12/1965 Switzerland ..220/23.6 1,533,316 6/1968 France ..206/65 F 471,013 5/ 1969 Switzerland ..206/72 Primary Examiner-George Lowrance Assistant ExaminerSteven E. Lipman AttorneyMichae1 A. Painter [57] ABSTRACT An elongate magazine is adapted to contain a plurality of like electronic components. The magazine includes an elongate support section adapted for the support of the electronic components. A pair of side walls extend upward and downward from the base of the magazine and are spaced from the support section, the top portion of each side wall has an inwardly projecting panel to secure the miniaturized electronic components upon the support section, the panel having an upward projection to permit vertical nesting of like magazines. Catches extend outwardly from each side wall, the catches being adapted to horizontally engage like interlocking magazine structures.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Jul 1e 5, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'IUR INTERLOCKING MAGAZINE STRUCTURE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 3,433, filed Jan. 16, 1970, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the field of packaging and storage structures, and more specifically to the structures used for the packaging of miniaturized electronic components.

2. Prior Art With the development of improved techniques for the miniaturization of electronic components, the practical problem of packaging has arisen. Since the components have been reduced in size, there is a need for extreme care to insure that the components are not damaged during storage and/or shipping. The prior art discloses structures to hold miniaturized components, but these fail to solve some of the acute problems inherent to this subject matter.

One of the problems which has been neglected by the prior art is the strength of the packaging structure. If a structure merely acts as a container for the miniaturized electronic component, the packaging problem has not been solved inasmuch as the components are still subject to shock and breakage. The present invention resolves this problem by providing means to horizontally and vertically interlock the magazine structures and thereby achieve increased strength by reason of the interlocked plurality forming the assembly. An assembly comprising a plurality of magazine structures will enhance the strength of the packaging. The increased strength enables the miniaturized electronic components to be more securely and more easily packaged.

Another problem solved by the present invention is the need for compact storage structures. By interlocking the magazine structure, strata of stored components can be stacked in a precise manner. The combination .of the securely held components and the interlocking magazines provides an assembly which will help to safeguard the components during shipping and/or storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structure for holding miniaturized components.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a structure which can be horizontally and vertically interlocked in pluralities.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a structure for holding integrated circuit packages which will provide improved 'efficiency in packaging and shipping.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a magazine for storage of miniaturized components which will reduce damage during storage and- /or shipping.

The present invention has arisen out of the need for a structure to improve the techniques for packaging and shipping miniaturized electronic components. The present invention magazine comprises an elongate body which has been adapted to contain and support a plurality of a given component. The adaptation will be contingent on the type of component being packaged, such as an integrated circuit, transistor or diode. In the case of a magazine in accordance with the present invention for packaging a plurality of integrated circuits,

the body will typically take the shape of an inverted U with the outer extremities being flanges extending horizontally and outwardly from the two ends of the U- shaped structure. A pair of side walls project upwardly from the flanges to enclose the transverse side of the elongate body. The side panels have a downward projecting portion to enable vertical stacking of like structures. To secure the mounted components, panels extend inwardly in a co-planar manner from the top edges of the side walls. Each of the co-planar panels have an upward projecting edge and a second co-planar panel depending inwardly therefrom. One or both of the second panels have an upward projecting lip substantially aligned with an inner surface of the inverted U.

To meet the stated objectives, the side walls of the present invention magazine structure are adapted to be interengaged with like magazine structures. By providing for interengagement of magazines, a sturdy compact assembly for the packaging and/or shipping of miniaturized components is assured.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention magazine structure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an assembly of magazine structures made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an end view of an embodiment of the present invention magazine structure with a positioned miniaturized component.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally through the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a prospective view of an assembly of horizontally interlocked magazine structures with end-enclosing members secured thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention magazine structure is generally designated by the refer.- ence numeral 10, and can be best understood by referring to FIG. 1. The magazine structure 10 comprises an elongate support section or support body 11 adapted to typically support miniaturized electronic components. The support body 11 illustrated in FIG. 1 is longitudinally extending and has an inverted U-shaped cross section adequate for the mounting of electronic components such as integrated circuit packages, an exemplary one of which is shown in FIG. 3 and designated as 50. The legs of the inverted U-shaped body 11 are extended into substantially horizontal co-planar flanges 14 forming the base of the magazine.

Side walls 13 extend upwardly from the outer extremities of the base flanges 14 running the full length of the magazine 10. The side walls 13 are typically parallel with reference to each other and substantially perpendicular to the flanges 14. The upper ends of the side walls 13 are extended into the panels 12, projecting inwardly in a horizontal co-planar manner. The panels 12 are connected with upwardly extending substantially parallel side walls 15 at approximately right angles to the panels 12. The outer surfaces 16 of the side walls 15 are substantially aligned with the respective inner surface 17 of the side walls 13. The substantially paral lel side walls 15 are extended inwardly, at an approximate right angle thereto, into substantially co-planar panels 18. The innermost edge of one of the panels 18 is depended upwardly, the outer edge 19 of the extension 20 being substantially aligned with the inner surface 21 of the respective leg of the inverted U. It would be obvious that both of the panels 18 could be extended upwardly by way of two extensions 20. The side walls 13 are extended downwardly in a substantially perpendicular manner past the abutment with the flanges 14, the inner surfaces 21 of the side wall extensions 22 being substantially aligned with the outer surfaces 16 of the parallel side walls 15.

Pairs of detent catches 23 and 23' and 24 and 24' project respectively from the exterior surface 25 of the side walls 13 at respective opposite sides of the magazine. The catches 23 and 24 enable horizontal interengagement of the present invention magazine structures 10, the interengagement resulting in an interlocked assembly. The engaging catches 23 and 24 and 23 and 24' are faced generally vertically in opposite directions and in mating relationship. The orientation of the pair of catches 23 is opposite to that of the pair of catches 24. Each of the catches 23, 23', 24 and 24' has its stem or shank portion connected to the respective side wall 13. The outer extension of the pair of catches 23 and 23' forms a groove 26 relative to the shank or stem portion, the groove 26 enabling interengagement with a catch 24 and 24 of a like but oppositely faced mating structure. The outer extensions of the pair of catches 24 and 24' thus form a groove 27 relative to the shank or stem portion.

The present invention magazine structure can be fabricated of known, conventional materials the specific material used for fabrication not being a part of the present invention. The material will preferably be a flexible plastic.

The interlocked assembly 20 of magazine structures 10 can be best understood by reference to FIG. 2. The horizontal interengagement of magazine structures 10 occurs by way of the catches 23 and 24. It would be ob-- vious to one skilled in the art that the catches 23 and 24 could be reduced in number, e.g., make one catch out of the pair of catches 23, or be changed in shape. The number and shape of the catches 23 and 24 are for the purpose of explanation and example only, and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The catches 23 and 24 are vertically spaced and oriented to mate with catches 23' and 24' for horizontally interlocking the magazine structures 10. When two magazine structures 10 are cooperatively engaged, the tongue portion of catches 24 will be secured within the grooves 26 and the tongue portions of catches 23 will be secured within the grooves 27.

The interlocking of the magazine structures 10 will be secure because of the positive force applied by the tongues of the catches 23 and 24 against the grooves 27 and 26 respectively. By making the distance 40 between the grooves 26 larger than the distance 41 between the tongue surfaces of the catches 24, the interlocked catches 24 will apply a definable force to the grooves 26. The relative dimensions between the grooves 27 and the catches 23 produce a similar force.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the present invention structures 10 can be vertically interengaged and secured into the assembly 20. One of the present invention structures 10 is vertically disposed upon another thereby interlocking the two structures 10. The inner surface 21 of the lower extensions 22 of the side walls 13 frictionally engage the outer surface 21 of the upwardly extending side walls 15. The spacing between the inner surfaces 21 of the vertical extensions 22 is substantially adjacent the outer surface 16 of the side walls 15. To insure alignment and interlocking, the outer surface 19 of the upward extension 20 engages the inner surface 21 of the inverted U of the adjacent magazine.

The vertical nesting and horizontal interengagement of the assembly 20 provides capabilities not achieved by the prior art. The present invention structures 10 can be loaded and unloaded vertically or horizontally without affecting the total assembly 20. The insertion or withdrawal of a row or column can be executed independent of the total assembly 20 as a result of the vertical and horizontal interlocks.

The utilization of the present invention magazine structure 10 can be best understood by reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an end view of a magazine structure 10. The component is inserted at the end portion of the magazine structure 10 and supported by the support body 11. As an example, in FIG. 3 an integrated circuit package 50 is mounted substantially adjacent to body portion 11 with the circuit pins 51 being transversely aligned along the transverse legs of the body portion 11. The panels 18, projecting inwardly in a horizontal plane serve to maintain the integrated circuit package 50 in a stationary or otherwise secure position. The specific component to be mounted will dictate the configuration of the support body position 11, and the spacing of the horizontal panels thereabove, the body portion 11 being adapted to comply with the support requirements of the component.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of that taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3. The integrated circuit packages 50 are mounted in end abutment along the length of the magazine structure 10, the integrated circuit packages 50 resting on the support body portion 11. The upper surface of the integrated circuit packages 50 are secured or otherwise protected by the panels 18. By holding the integrated circuit packages 50 in a secure position and otherwise protecting the integrated circuit packages 50, the interlocked magazine structures 10 will result in an assembly which fulfills all of the stated objectives for the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a'perspective view of two horizontally interlocked magazine structures 10 are able resilient material. Impinging flange 62 contacts the bottom surface of side wall extensions 22 and impinging flange 62 contacts the top surface of extensions 20. In order to assure a secure mounting of enclosing members 60, the width of base portion 61 is substantially the same as the vertical height of the magazines with impinging flanges 62 and 62' being oriented inwardly toward each other. The force created by the orientation of impinging flanges 62 and 62' and the resiliency of the material will secure enclosing member 60 to the magazines 10 thereby preventing inadvertent loss of enclosed components.

I claim:

1. An interlocking magazine comprising:

a. an elongate body including a pair of coplanar base flanges, a pair of parallel panels each depending upwardly from the inner adjacent edge of one of said coplanar base flanges, a support panel parallel to said base flanges connected to the top edges of said pair of parallel panels whereby an inverted U- shaped body is formed;

b. a pair of side walls each having an inside and outside surface, each being connected to the outer edge of one of said base flanges and depending upwardly therefrom, said side walls being parallel to each other;

c. a first and second pair of catches extending outwardly from the outside surface of respective ones of said sidewalls, the catches of said first pair facing in opposite vertical directions and the catches of said second pair facing in opposite vertical directions, said first and second pair of catches adapted to horizontally receive and be secured to a like interlocking magazine; and

d. securing panels depending inwardly from the top of each of said side walls, said securing panels being coplanar to each other and in parallel, spaced relation to said support panel.

2. An interlocking magazine comprising:

a. an elongate body including a pair of coplanar base flanges, a pair of parallel panels each depending upwardly from the inner adjacent edge of one of said coplanar base flanges, a support panel parallel to said base flanges connected to the top edges of said pair of parallel panels whereby an inverted-U- shaped body is formed;

b. a pair of side walls each having inside and outside surfaces, a first portion thereof extending upwardly and a second portion thereof depending downwardly from opposite lateral extremities of said elongate body;

c. a first and second pair of catches extending outwardly from the outside surface of the first portion of respective ones of said side walls, the catches of said first pair facing in opposite vertical directions and the catches of said second pair facing in opposite vertical directions, said first and second pair of catches adapted to horizontally receive and be secured to a like interlocking magazine;

d. securing panels, a portion thereof being adapted for engagement with the inner surface of the second portion of said side walls of a like structure, said securing panels depending inwardly from the first portion of said side walls; and

e. means for vertically aligning said magazine with a like structure extended upwardly from a portion of said securing panels.

3. An interlocking magazine comprising:

a. an elongate body including a pair of coplanar base flanges, a pair of parallel panels each depending upwardly from the inner adjacent edge of one of said coplanar base flanges, a supportpanel parallel to said base flanges connected to the top edges of said pair of parallel panels whereby an inverted U-,-

shaped body is formed;

b. a pair of side walls each having an inside and outside surface and a first and second end, said side walls being connected to the horizontal outer extremities of said base flanges at a point between the first and second end of said side walls and extending substantially perpendicular to the outer extremities of said base flanges;

c. first and second interlocking means for horizontally interlocking like magazines, said first and second means extending from the outer surface of respective ones of said side walls;

d. securing panels depending inwardly from the first end of said side walls, a first portion of said securing panels in parallel spaced relation to said support panel, a second portion adapted to cooperatively engage the inside surface of the second end of said side walls of a vertically disposed like structure; and

e. an engagement flange depending upwardly from the first portion of one of said securing panels adapted to cooperatively engage one of said parallel panels of a vertically disposed like magazine.

4. A magazine as in claim 3 wherein said first and second interlocking means comprise a first and second pair of catches respectively extending outwardly from the outside surface of respective ones of said side walls, the catches of said first pair facing in opposite vertical directions and the catches of said second pair facing in opposite vertical directions, said first pair of catches adapted to horizontally receive and be secured to a second pair of catches of a like interlocking magazine.

5. An interlocking magazine for holding given members comprising:

a. an elongate body having a pair of coplanar base flanges, a pair of parallel panels each having an inner and outer surface and depending upwardly from the inner adjacent edges of said coplanar base flanges, a support panel parallel to said base flanges and connected to the top edges of said pair of parallel panels whereby an inverted U-shaped body is formed;

b. first andsecond side walls each having an inside and outside surface and a first and second portion thereof, the first portion projecting upwardly and the second portion extending downwardly from the outer extremities of said base flanges, said side walls being substantially perpendicular to said base flanges;

. a first and second pair of catches extending laterally from the outer surfaces of said first and second side walls respectively, the catches of each pair being in vertical spaced relation, said first pair of catches facing in opposite vertical directions and said second pair of catches facing in opposite vertical directions, the vertical orientation of said first and second pair of catches adapted to permit horizontal engagement of like magazines;

d. securing panels depending inwardly from the first end of said side walls, a first portion of said securing panels in parallel spaced relation to said support panel and adapted to secure the given members to said support panel, a second portion of said securing panels adapted to slidably engage the inside surface of the second end of said side walls of a vertically disposed like structure; and

zine.

* a: I: it a: 

1. An interlocking magazine comprising: a. an elongate body including a pair of coplanar base flanges, a pair of parallel panels each depending upwardly from the inner adjacent edge of one of said coplanar base flanges, a support panel parallel to said base flanges connected to the top edges of said pair of parallel panels whereby an inverted U-shaped body is formed; b. a pair of side walls each having an inside and outside surface, each being connected to the outer edge of one of said base flanges and depending upwardly therefrom, said side walls being parallel to each other; c. a first and second pair of catches extending outwardly from the outside surface of respective ones of said side walls, the catches of said first pair facing in opposite vertical directions and the catches of said second pair facing in opposite vertical directions, said first and second pair of catches adapted to horizontally receive and be secured to a like interlocking magazine; and d. securing panels depending inwardly from the top of each of said side walls, said securing panels being coplanar to each other and in parallel, spaced relation to said support panel.
 2. An interlocking magazine comprising: a. an elongate body including a pair of coplanar base flanges, a pair of parallel panels each depending upwardly from the inner adjacent edge of one of said coplanar base flanges, a support panel parallel to said base flanges connected to the top edges of said pair of parallel panels whereby an inverted U-shaped body is formed; b. a pair of side walls each having inside and outside surfaces, a first portion thereof extending upwardly and a second portion thereof depending downwardly from opposite lateral extremities of said elongate body; c. a first and second pair of catches extending outwardly from the outside surface of the first portion of respective ones of said side walls, the catches of said first pair facing in opposite vertical directions and the catches of said second pair facing in opposite vertical directions, said first and second pair of catches adapted to horizontally receive and be secured to a like interlocking magazine; d. securing panels, a portion thereof being adapted for engagement with the inner surface of the second portion of said side walls of a like structure, said securing panels depending inwardly from the first portion of said side walls; and e. means for vertically aligning said magazine with a like structure extended upwardly from a portion of said securing panels.
 3. An interlocking magazine comprising: a. an elongate body including a pair of coplanar base flanges, a pair of parallel panels each depending upwardly from the inner adjacent edge of one of said coplanar base flanges, a support panel parallel to said base flanges connected to the top edges of said pair of parallel panels whereby an inverted U-shaped body is formed; b. a pair of side walls each having an inside and outside surface and a first and second end, said side walls being connected to the horizontal outer extremities of said base flanges at a point between the first and second end of said side walls and extending substantially perpendicular to the outer extremities of said base flanges; c. first and second interlocking means for horizontally interlocking like magazines, said first and second means extending from the outer surface of respective ones of said side walls; d. securing panels depending inwardly from the first end of said side walls, a first portion of said securing panels in parallel spaced relation to said support panel, a second portion adapted to cooperatively engage the inside surface of the second end of said side walls of a vertically disposed like structure; and e. an engagement flange depending upwardly from the first portion of one of said securing panels adapted to cooperatively engage one of said parallel panels of a vertically disposed like magazine.
 4. A magazine as in claim 3 wherein said first and second interlocking means comprise a first and second pair of catches respectively extending outwardly from the outside surface of respective ones of said side walls, the catches of said first pair facing in opposite vertical directions and the catches of said second pair facing in opposite vertIcal directions, said first pair of catches adapted to horizontally receive and be secured to a second pair of catches of a like interlocking magazine.
 5. An interlocking magazine for holding given members comprising: a. an elongate body having a pair of coplanar base flanges, a pair of parallel panels each having an inner and outer surface and depending upwardly from the inner adjacent edges of said coplanar base flanges, a support panel parallel to said base flanges and connected to the top edges of said pair of parallel panels whereby an inverted U-shaped body is formed; b. first and second side walls each having an inside and outside surface and a first and second portion thereof, the first portion projecting upwardly and the second portion extending downwardly from the outer extremities of said base flanges, said side walls being substantially perpendicular to said base flanges; c. a first and second pair of catches extending laterally from the outer surfaces of said first and second side walls respectively, the catches of each pair being in vertical spaced relation, said first pair of catches facing in opposite vertical directions and said second pair of catches facing in opposite vertical directions, the vertical orientation of said first and second pair of catches adapted to permit horizontal engagement of like magazines; d. securing panels depending inwardly from the first end of said side walls, a first portion of said securing panels in parallel spaced relation to said support panel and adapted to secure the given members to said support panel, a second portion of said securing panels adapted to slidably engage the inside surface of the second end of said side walls of a vertically disposed like structure; and e. a vertical alignment flange depending upwardly from a securing panel and adapted to slidably engage the inner surface of a parallel panel of the elongate body of a vertically disposed like magazine. 